Signal system.



P. H. WEBSTER; SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.17, 1913.

1 109,381 Patented Sept. 1, 1914 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

INVENTOR Fay nwebd r 7% A TTORNE Y 8 WITNESSES 1?. H.- WEBSTER.

SIGNAL SYSTEM.

L PPLIOATION FILED $1111.17, 1913.

Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

2 SHEETSSHBET 2.

nvmron a y H. We b sie K BY I nnonwsrs FAY I-I. WEBSTER, OF MARVELL,ARKANSAS.

SIGNAL SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Eatented Sept. 1, 1914.

Application filed January 17, 1913. Serial No. 742599.

.zo all whomit may concern:

Be it known that I, FAY H. 'Wnesrnn, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Marvell, in the county of Phillips and State of Arkansas,have invented a new and Improved Signal System, of which the followingis a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates generally to a visual signal, and is moreparticularly directed to an electricallyactuated mechanism adapted forcooperation with a telephone circuit.

The purpose of the invention is to provide avisual signal in connectionwith a telephone circuit, whereby the central office may throw intoexposed position a semaphore arm, or may light a lamp located at anysuitable point, the signal-actuating mechanism being controlled by thecalling current through the telephone.

The signal is primarily intended for use in public places, as inconnection with police service, allowing headquarters to set a visualsignal at any police booth, thus notifying ollicers on beat to call upheadquarters for instructions.

The construction illustrated and described makes use of a semaphore armand a lamp as signal elements; the construction de scribed contemplatesa means for preventing constant burning of the lampwhen the sumaphorearm is exposed, as during the day time when such lamp is not needed.

litany objects and advantages following the use of the invention willappear as the description proceeds, the inventive idea beingcomprehended in the scope of the appended claims. v

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part oithis specification, in which like characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views, and in which Figure 1 disclosesdiagrammatically the arrangement of the signal on. a pole; Big. 2 is asimilar view showing the semaphore in exposed position; Fig. 3 1s asimilar view disclosing the relative positions of the parts when thesemaphoreis returning to un'ex-' posed position. Fig. 4 is a fragmentaryview illustrating a slightly modified form.

The invention is described in connection with a pole 1, having atelephone 2 thereon, usually contained within a housing 3, the wires lserving to connect the telephone with the central oflice; these partsare chosen merely in order to show the utility of the invention, itbeing obvious that many different arrangements may be used.

Pivotally mounted on the pole in any suitable manner, as by means of apin 5, is a semaphore arm 6, having a short arm 7 at one end to which isconnected a rope or chain 8, terminating in a ring 9 extending adjacentthe telephone 2, the said ring and.

chain serving as a means of returning the semaphore arm from theposition shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 1. Extending laterallyfrom one side or the semaphore arm 6 are a hooked arm 10 and an ofi'setl0.

Adjacent the semaphore, and carried on the pole l, is a lamp 11, one ofthe wires 12 thereto communicating with one side of a battery 13, orother source of electrical en ergy; the other wire llextending from thelamp is connected to one end of the electromagnet 15, the other wire 16from the electro-magnet extending downwardly, and preferably into thehousing 3 which carries the telephone; the wire 17 extending from theother side of the battery 13 also extends into the housing 3.

Adjacent the electro-magnet 15 is an armature 18, pivotally mounted inposition at 19, the armature being in electrical contact with the wire17 through a conductor 2-0; the outer end of the armature is hooked, asat 21, and in the normal position oi the parts as shown in Fig. l theengagement of the hooked end of the armature with the hooked end 10 ofthe semaphore arm serves to retain the parts in the position shown.Carried on the pole 1 is a resilient element having a contacting finger23 adapted to be engaged by a contact 2% on the armature 18 when thesame comes into the position shown in Fig. 2; this finger 23 isconnected with the wire 16 leading from the electromagnet 15 by means ofa conductor 25. As noted particularly in Figs. 1 and :2, a buffer 26 ofany suitable form, preferably a resilient arm, is carried by the pole'land serves to take up the shock of the falling semaphore arm.

Vvithin the housing 3 is a relay made up of the electro-inagnet 27, thepivoted armature 28, the fixed contact 29, the stop. 30, and the spring31. The Wire 17 leading from one side of the battery 13 is connected tothe fixed contact 29, while the wire 16 leading from one end of theelectro-magnet 15 is connected to the armature 28; the stop 30determines the normal position of the 27' (if the-switch 83 is open),the armature 28 being thereby drawn to the pole face of theelectro-magnet and the circuit through the wires 16 and 17 being closed;the battery 13, or other source of electrical energy, will then energizethe electro-magnet 15 adjacent the semaphore arm, drawing the armature18 out of engagement with the hooked arm 10 of the semaphore, andpermitting the said arm to drop into the full line position of Fig. 2.The movement of the armature 18 as described will bring the contact 24:thereon into engagement with the finger 23, thereby placing theelectro-magnet 15, the battery 13 and the lamp 11 in circuit, the lampremaining "lighted. The electro-magnet 27 is actuated only during thetime that calling current flows through the telephone 2.

Referring now to Fig. 3, the downward movement of the chain or rope 8will bring the semaphore arm upwardly into the position shown in thatfigure, the curved oil-set 10' on the semaphore engaging the top cornerof the armature 18, thereby bringing the contact 24 thereon out ofengagement with the contact finger 23, opening the circuit through theelectro-magnet and the lamp, the lamp being thereby extinguished.Further downward movement of the chain or rope 8 will bring the-hookedarm 10 on the semaphore into engagement with the hooked end 21 of thearmature 18, the parts being then in normal position, as shown inFig. 1. If so desired, the lamp 11 may be rendered ino Jerative by meansof the switch 34 in multiple with the lamp, the closed position of theswitch short-circuiting the lamp; this switch may be used through theday in order to prevent the lamp burning such switch, however, notpreventing the continuous flow of current from the battery 13 throughthe electro-magnct 15, a modified construction being availed of toprevent this continuous fiow of current when so desired.

Referring particularly to the modified formshown in Fig. 4, it will benoted that extending outwardly from the end of the hooked arm 10 is anoffset 35, which offset engages the resilient finger or support 22 ing'the circuit through the lamp, batteryand electro-magnet, and preventingthe continual burning of the lamp or continuous flow of current whichwould otherwise happen until the semaphore arm is returned to normalposition. WVhen the ofi'set 35 is used and when the arm 6 is in signalposition, a

second flow of current through the relay will of course operate theelectro-magnet 15 and light the lamp. 35 is optional.

The structure set forth is simple, and

'while making use of elements which are now in use, the relation of theelementsamong themselves is such that a visual signal, particularlyuseful in connection with a telephone system, is provided, and oneWhlCll lS inexpensive in make-upand maintenance.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new anddesire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In a signal system, a relay including avisual signal, a source of current, and" an 'electro-magnet, connectedin'series, a semaphore arm engaged and held in'inop'erative .position bythe armature of the electromagnet, and contacts for bridging the relaycircuit, one of which contacts is carried and movable with the armatureof the electromagnet to engage the other contact and form a continuouscircuit through the signal, source of current and electro-magnet whenthe relay circuit is completed to release the semaphore arm'.

2. In a signal system, a relay circuit including a visual signal, asource of current and an electro-magnet connected in series,

' and the latter of which is energized when the relay is completed, asemaphore arm engaged and held in inoperative position by the armatureof the electro-magnet, said armature being connected to oneside of therelay circuit andprovided with a. contact member, and a contact memberconnected'to the opposite side of the relay circuit, and with which thearmature carried contact engages when the armature is moved toward theelectro-magnet to release the semaphore The use of the offset arm, andthe electro-magnet is energized by completion of the relay circuit.

3. A visual signal comprising a. circuit made up of a relay actuateddevice for closing the circuit, a source of current, a lamp and anclectro-magnet, the said elements being connected in series, thearmature of the electro-magnct being connected to one side of the saidcircuit, a contact finger with which the armature is adapted to engageand connected to the other side of the circuit, a semaphore arm engagedby the said armature and maintained in one position,"

movement of the armature when the electromagnet is energized permittingthe somaphore arm to come to a second position, the armature engagingthe said contact finger, whereby a circuit is closed through the sourceof current, the lamp and the electromegnet, the semephore erin beingprovided with ineens for moving the said contact iinger away from thearmature when the seine-- phore fails, thereby opening the circuitthrough the said eiectro-inagnet, iamp and source of current.

i. A signal system comprising a circuit made up of a circuit closingdevice, it source of current, a lamp and en eiectro-insgnet, e semaphorearm, the armature oi the electromegnet engaging the semaphore arm andmaintaining it in one position, ciosing of the circuit through theeiectro-msgnet disengaging the armature from. the arm and permitting thearm to come to a second position, the said armature being connected toone sid'e of the circuit between. the source of current and the circuitclosing device, a contact finger with which the armature is adepted toengage and connected to the other side of the circuit between theelectro-magnet and the said circuit closing device, movement of thearmature when the electro-magnet is energized bringing the armature intoengagement with the contact finger, Wherefby a circuit is closed throughthe electro-

